Tool handle



Nov. 23 1926.

W. C. STOWE TOOL HANDLE Original Fil ed June 10. 1921 William E. Eltuwe.

ran stares r WILLIAM CHRISTIAN STQ'WE, OF STEILACQOM, VJASHINGTGN.

TOOL HANDLE.

Application filed June 10, 1821, Serial This invention relates to an improved device for protecting handles of tools from splitting, splintering, or wearing ad acent their connection with a work element.

Specifically, the invention includes a protecting wedge member for mounting about a handle, and adapted for insertion into the handle aperture of a Work element, such as an axe blade, hatchet blade, pick or the like.

A further object of the invention. is the provision of a device of the above described character, which i eludes protecting members of novel formation to snugly engage the sides of a tool handle, and for maintaining a work element secured to said handle; allowing for shrinkage, or decreasing size in the handle, by a we dging action.

Qther objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following deailcd description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an axe handle and blade, sho the improved protecting means mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken I on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a central vertical section taken on the line 3-3of Figure 1.

Figure 41 is a transverse cross section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a detail of the protec ing device.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the letter A designates a tool handle for use upon a working element B. Protecting means C is provid d for engagement about the handle A. to main tain the working element B in rigid position thereon for protection purposes; the retain-- ing means D being provided as part of the protecting device.

The handle A can of course be of any approved type, such as the type now in standard use, and depending upon the implement upon which used. Thehandle A generally includes the tapered blade receiving end 10. The working element 13 can, of course, be an axe blade, pick, or similar working tool, having the substantially oval shaped aperture or handle receiving opening 11 therein. It is preferred, that the tapered end 10 of the handle, be substantially oval in formation, tapering upwardly for reception within the opening 11 of the working element B; the sides of the tapered end 10 designated by the major axis of said end,.being substantially flat as at 12, and 13, for reception of a portion of the protecting means C. In this manner, when the tapered end 10 is inserted in the blade B, independent of the protecting means C, substantially segmental shaped openings are provided in the aperture or opening 11., adjacent the flat sides 12 and 13.

The protecting means C preferably comprises a pair of strips 14 and 15, adapted for overlying the tapered sides 12 and 18 of the end 10, of handle A. The strips 1 1 and 15 are substantially similar in formation, including a substantially U-shaped body 16 to provide a pocket for receiving the sides of the end 10 of a handle. It is preferred that the socket shaped portions 16 be relatively thick at their bight portions; the thickness of said bight portion gradullv diminishing outwardly into the sides a '1? and 18.

The end 10 of the handle A is substantially oval in formation, and inthis event the strips 14 and 15 may be disposed upon the opposite sides intersected by the major axis of said oval shaped end. The protecting strips 14 and 15, are each provided with a reduced upwardly extending shank 19, substantially segmental in cross section. for overlying the flat enos 12 and 13, of the end 10, to complete the line of oval formation of said end 10, as is clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. Both of the strips 1 1 and 15, are provided with outwardly extending heads 20. upwardly upon the reduced shanks 19;l he heads 20 projecting outwardly from the strips 14: and 15, and

in direction opposite the extending sides 1'? and 18.

The retaining means 1), of novel formation, and adapted for maintaining the strips 1 1' and 15 in snug adjustable relation of the handle A, below and exteriorly of the work element B. The strip 15, is preferably provided adjacent its lower end 21 With the laterally extending fingers 2 2.

-The fingers 22, are of similar formation,

and disposed upon the sides 17 and 18, for

overlying opposite sides of a handle A. Each finger 22 includes a shank 23, and an handle means, the strips 1% and on the tapered from the U-shaped portion 16 of the strip 14. A passageway 29 is provided outwardly on each extension 26, for the reception of a shank 23, ot a finger 22. By the above described means, the strips 14 and 15 can be maintained in adjustable detachable arrangement; the beveled heads 24, en gaging in the 'beveled grooves 28 of the pockets 27, in dove tailed arrangement.

In assembling the improved protecting the smaller portion of the slipped upwardly into place end 10. When approaching the tapered end 10, the side of said end 10 will engage in the channel shaped portion 16 of the strips 14 and 15, and torcesaid strips outwardly with respect to each other. This will have the effect of engaging the head 24: oteach finger 22 in a pocket 27, until the abrupt shoulders 25 of each of the fingers 22 approach into proximate position with the abrupt shoulders o0, adjacent disposed upon handle A, and

the formation of the passageway 29 into the pocket 27. The blade or working element B, is then slipped over the handle A and onto the shanks 19 of the strips 14 and 15. In this position, the work element 13 will engage the shank 19, as well as the side portions of the tapered end 10, which remain free of any portion of the protecting means C. It should be noted in this connection,

that the channel shaped portion 16 of the strip will lie downwardly of the work element B, and outside of the handle aperture 11. As the tapered end 10 is then torcibly drawn into the strips 1 1 and 15, said strips will be braced. or expanded, and the shank 19' thereof will bite into the interior of the opening 11, to engage the work element B. In this position, the overlying heads 20 will project upon the top of the work element B, and prevent any liability of the work element B slipping over'the protecting, strips 1 1 and 15.

Should the handle tapered end 10 shrink to any appreciable degree, the same will be forced downwardly in the means C by use of the tool, and will have the effect of work ing the shank 19 into contact with the work element B. i

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a protecting device has been perfected, which will prevent splintering of the tapered end 10 of the handle A, while at the same time acting as an el l'e'ctive retaining means for securing the work element B on the handle .il. It is preferred that the strips 1-ii and 15 manufactured of some durable material, preferably metal, and having the retaining means Daccnrately developed to permit 01 wedge expansion of the strips 1st and i I working relation.

Various changes in the shape, size and arr ngeinent of parts may be'made to the form of the invention herein shown and secribed,

it-hout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim.

I claim:

n tool comprising a head having a socket formed therethrough, a handle having a portion extending through the socket of said head and a tapered portion adjacent the 15, while retainii'ig them in' etl eotive socket engaging portion, strips extending" through the socket between thehandle and end walls 01 the socket, the strips beyond the inner end of the tool head being curved transversely and straddling opposite sides of the tapered portion of the handle, arms extending from opposite sides of the inner end portion of one of said strips and having recesses leading inwardly from their free ends and provided with parallel side walls for a portion of its length and being then enlarged to provide abutment shoulders, the side walls of the enlarged portion extending inwardly in diverging relation and having a portion offset to provide a second set of abutment shoulders, the portion between the first and last mentioned shoulders being undercut, and arms extending from the opposite sides oi the inner end portion of the other strip and extending in overlapping relation to the first mentioned arms and into the recesses thereof and shaped to conform to the contour of therecesses and to engage theshoulders and fit beneath the undercut side portions and securely hold the st ip$ in place about the handle. 1

\VILLIAM CHRISTIAN STOVVE. 

